EFCC CHAIRMAN URGES ENGINEERING GRADUATES TO SHUN CORRUPTION
Read Time:3 Minute, 2 Second
By ‘Balogun Ibrahim
The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede, has called on newly inducted engineering graduates to uphold integrity and reject corruption, warning that unethical practices in the profession could put lives at risk and hinder national development.
Olukoyede said corruption had continued to prevent Nigeria from converting its abundant natural and human resources into wealth and better living conditions for its over 200 million citizens.
He made the remarks on Friday at the induction ceremony of 45 engineering graduates of Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He delivered a lecture titled, “Integrity, Accountability and the Fight Against Economic and Financial Crimes: Building a Culture of Transparency and Responsibility in Nigeria.”
The EFCC chairman urged the graduates and other students to shun cybercrime, identity theft, internet fraud and other illegal activities, warning that the temporary financial benefits of criminal activities could ruin their reputations and future opportunities.
He identified embezzlement, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, money laundering, illicit financial flows, terrorist financing, cyber fraud, investment and procurement fraud, bank fraud, tax evasion, economic sabotage and virtual asset fraud as various forms of corruption in Nigeria.
“The absence of integrity allows professionals to falsify records, manipulate contracts, divert public funds and compromise the quality of projects meant to serve the public. Corruption in the public and private sectors remains a major obstacle to Nigeria’s development,” he said.
He stressed that engineers had a special responsibility to uphold professional standards, noting that substandard infrastructure could endanger lives and weaken public confidence.
The anti-graft agency boss also condemned society’s celebration of unexplained wealth, observing that individuals involved in corruption were sometimes honoured with chieftaincy titles, given prominent positions in religious gatherings and defended along ethnic lines.
Olukoyede disclosed that the EFCC had secured 10,872 convictions and recovered monetary assets worth more than N1.288tn in the past three years as part of its efforts to combat economic and financial crimes.
He highlighted the establishment of the commission’s Department of Fraud Risk Assessment and Control, which identifies vulnerabilities in ministries, departments and agencies, monitors budget releases and works to prevent fraud.
He also cited the revised Interfaith Manual, presented on September 23, 2026, in collaboration with the Christian Association of Nigeria, the Sultan of Sokoto and other religious leaders, as part of the commission’s preventive initiatives.
Other measures highlighted by the EFCC chairman included the commission’s 97.3 FM radio station, established in May 2024, and the Cybercrime Rapid Response Centre, launched on October 22, 2024.
He added that the commission was establishing a Cybercrime Research Centre at its new academy in Giri, Abuja.
Olukoyede urged families, schools, religious leaders, traditional rulers and professional associations to promote ethical values, stressing that a compromised system could not produce responsible citizens and institutions.
Speaking at the event, an engineer and entrepreneur, Henrich Akomolafe, said artificial intelligence was transforming how engineers designed, constructed, manufactured, operated and maintained systems.
However, he cautioned against allowing the technology to replace professional judgement, ethical standards and human responsibility.
“AI is a tool that strengthens engineering capability; it is not a substitute for engineering judgement, professional ethics or human responsibility,” he said.
The university’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Omojola, said the induction ceremony demonstrated the institution’s commitment to producing competent and professionally responsible graduates.
Similarly, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering, S.A. Akinola, described the ceremony as a reflection of knowledge, responsibility and partnership, adding that the oath taken by the graduates represented a commitment to deploying their skills in the public interest.
Happy
0 %
Sad
0 %
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
0 %
Surprise
0 %
0
0